Machine for the preparation of cards for jacquards



May '15, 1951 o. H. M. J. DALLE MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARDS FOR JACQUARDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April ll, 1949 mgm AUM May 15 1951 o. H. M. J. DALLE MACHINE FoR THE PREPARATION oF CARDS FoR JAcQUARDs Filed April 11, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 announce noonoanu lng 1]. 17.

May l5, 1951 o. H. M. J. DALLE MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION oF CARDS FOR JAcQUARDs 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 11, 1949 May 15, 1951 o. H. M. 1. DALLE 2,552,942

MACHINE FOR 'I'HE PREPARATION 0F CARDS FOR JACQUARDS Filed April l1, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /l Tron/sys W 2,552,942 MCHINE FOR THE PREPARATION oF CARDS FOR JACQUARDS `5 sheets-sheet 5 O. H. M. J. DALLE May 15, 1951 Filed April l1, 1949 Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARDS FOR JACQUARDS Application April 11, 1949, Serial No. 86,683 In France April 20, 1948 7 Claims.

My invention relates to machines used to prepare pattern cards and more particularly papers for Jacquards of the Verdol type.

A first object of my invention is to provide a machine which enables the operator to follow the design without having to take into account the details of the Weave of the diiierent parts of the pattern.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which may, without any modification, be manipulated to operate to reproduce pre-punched existing pattern cards or papers.

A further object of my invention is a machine for preparing pattern cards or papers which will permit automatic reproduction of a card (the term card comprising here the individual Jacquard card or the part or a Verdol paper corresponding to a weft) or oi a given portion of a card in such a manner that the operators work may be reduced to a minimum.

Still a further object of my invention is a machine comprising a paper repeating device of the Verdol type wherein the feeler needles are suspcnded with play to hooks adapted to be set either at a high position, for which the feeler needles are raised, or at a low position, for which the said needles are lowered on a master paper (which paper bears the different weaves of the part of the pattern read by the operator) and are selected in accordance with the said master paper, while means are provided to enable the operator to lower the said hooks for each point of the card where he desires reproduction of the weave of the master paper; and to raise all the lowered hooks when he has read in the appropriate portion oi the design and perforated the corresponding part of the card.

My improved machine is preferably used as follows: The operator reads in the design for each color of the latter in successive steps, while the perforating device is. each time provided with a master paper bearing the weaves for the difierent shuttles in the portion which he is reading. The operator then lowers the hooks corresponding to the points Where the color under consideration should appear and he leaves the other hooks at the raised position. It will be understood that for all these points the pattern cards (meaning, as above, the successive portions of the Verdol paper corresponding to a weft) will be perforated in accordance with the proper weaves, while they' `will remain unperforated for the other points. By reading in the design for all the colors in succession the operator thus ensures full perforation of all the cards.

Actuation of the hooks is preferably effected by series of eight, which number has the advantage of simultaneously corresponding to the conventional number of holes in a transverse row of a Verdol-card (this term intended as above), and to the number of the operators fingers apart from the thumbs. This actuation is ensured by a carriage bearing a striking device which covers a transverse row of eight hooks, the said carriage being movable from each row to the next one in succession under the operators control. When the pattern drawing is formed oi parts which are repeated on the Width of the fabric, the machine is preferably provided with a plurality of striking devices disposed at equal distances on the above-mentioned carriage in such a manner that operation of one ci them is automatically repeated by the others. The operator thus only reads in one part of the design and the cards are automatically perforated for all.

Actuation of the hooks is eiected by means of eight keys which do not preferably ensure direct actuation, the latter being effected mechanically under control of an additional key actuated by one of the operator's thumbs, This arrangement permits the operator to verify the reading before perforation and also to repeat this reading for one or several rows of eight hooks, when this is rendered possible by the regularity of the weave for the color under consideration. For this latter purpose my improved machine preferably comprises a repeating key, also actuated by a thumb and adapted to ensure automatic repetition of the reading for a next row of eight hooks.

The keys are preferably disposed separately of the paper perforating mechanism proper and they are carried by a carriage adapted to be moved manually before a reading board on which the design is xed. They are connected to the said mechanism by electric wires adapted for electromagnetic control of operation. The operator may thus follow the drawing by successive rows without having to pay attention to the setting device which acts automatically. He thus reads in eight points corresponding to the eight keys which he depresses (or not) by means of his eight fingers resting thereon. He then transiers the reading to the hooks, repeating if necessary. When all the hooks have thus been positioned he eiects perforation of the card by settir:U into motion the driving gear of the perforating device.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the Verdol punching (or repeating) device forming part of my machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental enlarged transverse section thereof taken along line II-II cf Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of this device with secn tion taken along line III--III' of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a very diagram-matieal perspective view of my machine showing some of the main parts thereof and illustrating their mutual rela tion and cooperation.

Fig. 5 is a front view showing the adjustable board whereon the design is fixed.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical View of the carriage advancing gear. Y

Fig. '7 is a general diagram of the electric circuits.

Fig. 8 diagrammatically shows the arrangement of the key controlling the striking of the intermediate members of the carriage and the advancing gear of the latter.

Fig. 9 is a large scale view illustrating the pattern drawing and the corresponding pointer.

Fig. l0 is a sectional View corresponding to Fig. 9.

As above explained my improved machine comprises a Verdol punching device the feeler needles of which are controlled in a particular manner. Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates this device which comprises in a known manner feeler needles I supporting pusher rods 2 which actuate punches 3 adapted to perforate the paper 4 resting against a punching matrix 5. Peg wheels i5 Yprovided with pegs and rotated step by step ensure the feed between successive perforating operations. The pusher rods 2 are actuated by a row of bars 'I which move horizontally. The feeler needles I are guided in a perforated guide 8 above a perforated table 9 which supports the master paper I0 also fed step by step by peg wheels I I. Table 3 is vertically movable to lower the paper which clears the needles before the feeding step and thereafter is raised to effect selection of the needles. Y

In the conventional Verdol punching device, the master paper I0 is properly fed and a portion thereof corresponding to a stroke of the Jaoquard is brought on table 9, such portion being Y commonly termed a card though the Verdol type of Jacquard uses a continuous band of paper instead of a succession of separate cards. The table is raised and the needles are freely selected by the paper, only those which meet a perforation in the latter remaining at the lower position, while the other are raised.V The pusher rods 2 corresponding to the low needles are actuated by bars 1, while the raised ones escape the latter. The paper 4 is thus perforated in ac cordance with the master paper I0.

In my improved machine the eeler needles I are suspended with a considerable vertical play to vertically movable hooks I2 in such a manner that, when the said hooks are at their lowerH most position, needles I may still be retained by a plain portion of paper E@ (Fig. 2, second needle from the left) or remain low by passing through a perforation thereof (Fig. 2, rst needle from the left), while, when hooks I2 are at their highermost position, needles I are raised even if paper ii! is perforated (Fig. 2, rst and second needles from the right). Under such conditions paper fi will be perforated in accordance with paper l where hooks I2 are lowered, and it will remain quite unperforated where the latter are raised. It follows that raising hooks I2 so to speak hinders the perforation reproducing oper-1 ation for all the points of the card when the said hooks are raised.

Fig. 2 shows the detail of hooks i2. They are in the form of thin plates having at their lower end a vertically elongated hole I3 adapted to receive the curved'end of thecorresponding needle I. These plates are guided between longitudinal bars It on which they are retained by pins I5 passing through a vertically elongated opening I5 which permit the vertical movement required for operation. The upper end of hooks I2 is forkshaped, one of the fork arms, smaller in length than the other, being provided at its end with a lateral projection I'i. I'l are guided between transverse bars I8 with rounded upper edge. Hooks I2 are elastic and when they are pushed downwardly their lateral projection Il is pressed inwardly by the rounded edge of the corresponding transverse bar I8, whereby the hooks may be lowered and elastically retained at their lower position (Fig. 2).

In accordance with the standard arrangement of the Verdol card each transverse row comprises eight hooks corresponding to the eight holes of d a transverse row of the card, and one hundred and sixty eight hooks in a longitudinal row corresponding to the'one hundred and sixty eight holes of a longitudinal row of the card.

Hooks i2 are actuated by hammers I9 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) vertically slidable in blocks 2i), Each hammer is formed as a rectangular rod having an elongated lateral notch ISa wherein there is passed a bar 2m transverse to the hammers and having its ends passed through vertically elongated apertures Za (see Fig. 4) provided in the block 2:?, such bar being Xed to the ends of a fiat U-shaped member 2| embracing block 2D and pivoted thereon at 2lb. Bar 2Ia is retained at a raised position by means which willV be described later and it retains hammers I9 at their higher position, while when this bar 2Ia is lowV ered hammers I9 are free to move downwardly or not owing to notches I9a. All Ythe blocks 20 are carried by a single carriage 22 which may be displaced along the full length of the rows of hooks i2, as explained below, each block 20 being disposed transversely of carriage 22 and carrying a row of eight hammers I9 adapted to actuate the eight hooks of a transverse row.

Above hammers I9 there are arranged eight longitudinal bars 2?. adapted to slide vertically to each bar 23 is notched as at 23a in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and above the said bars there is disposed an inverted U-shaped movable frame 24 provided with downward transverse projections 25. Frame 24 is vertically guided in the machine frame and it is in one with upward extensions 25 each provided with a lateral nger 26a (Fig. 3) engaging a cam groove 27a formed in a disc 21 mounted on a common longitudinal shaft 28 passed through vertically elongated openings 26h (Fig. l) of eX- tensions '.28 so that when the said shaft is rotated frame 213 is vertically reciprocated.

Bars 23 are slidably guided in the fixed frame or casing of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 3 and their lower edge is notched as shown at 23h.

They are also formed with openings 23e through which are passed with considerable vertical and horizontal play transverse rods 24a fixed to frame 24 and movable therewith.

When frame 2li is at its higher position as in Fig. 3, bars 23 are supported by rods 24a and The forked ends of hooks they are free to slide from an inactive position to` an active' position. At the inactive position notches 23a are under projections 25 of frame 24 while notches 23h are not in registration with the sides of the machine frame, as indicated in Fig. 3; under such conditions bars 23 are not struck by projections 25 during the downward stroke of frame 24 and they are retained at their higher position by the machine frame or casing. It will be noted that owing to the vertical play of rods 24a. within, openings 23o free movement of frame 24 is not hindered. At the active position of bars 23 notches 23a do not register longitudinally with projections 25 of frame 24 while on the contrary notches 23h register with the casing sides; bars 23 are therefore struck by projections 25 and they move downwardly therewith thus actuating hammers I9.

As shown in. Figs. 1 and 2 one end of each bar 2m is engaged into a longitudinal groove 24h formed in a side of frame 24, so that as the said frame moves upwardly hammers I9 are returned to their higher position if they have been depressed by bars 23.

Shaft 28 is actuated by a step-by-step clutch of the kind used in presses wherein the crankshaft only effects a single rotation for each actuation of the shaft, as described later.

Bars 23 are longitudinally controlled against the action of springs 29 by electromagnets 3| through cranked levers 32 and connecting rods 33.

The above described longitudinal `bars I4 (Figs. 1 and 2) carrying the pins I5 passed through hooks I2 are not directly secured to the machine frame; these bars I4 are connected to one another to form a vertically movable frame which may be raised by curved iingers 3E (Figs. 1 and 4) carried by a longitudinal shaft 31 provided with a handle 33 by means of which those of hooks I2 which have been depressed by hammers I9 may be returned to their higher position by pins I5.

In Fig. 3 there is shown at the side of the frame 39 of the machine as hitherto described L' an electric driving motor 49, the drive being ensured through a belt 4I in the manner described later.

On the side of this frame 39 there is arranged another frame 42 (Figs. 4 and 5) carrying a "i vertically slidableboard 43 actuated by means of a handle crank 44 through a horizontal shaft 44a carrying pinions 44h meshing with vertical racks 43a fixed to the said board 43, which latter is adapted to support the drawing 45 of the deil; engaged from notches 69a.

sign or pattern to be drafted. Frame 42 has a horizontal transverse member 49 which slidably supports a carriage 41 carrying a pointer 48 adapted to follow the horizontal lines of the design (corresponding to the successive weft threads). To carriage 41 there is xed an endless cable 49 passing on two end pulleys 59 one of which is carried by frame 39 where it is rigid with a gear wheel 50a in mesh with an intermediate gear 5017 itself in mesh with another gear 59o mounted on a shaft 5m provided with a pinion 5I in engagement with a rack 52 (Fig. 3) fixed to the above-described carriage 22 in such a manner that by displacing pointer 48 along the drawing 45 the operator causes carriage 22 to move within frame Sii. Of course this cable connection ,between frames 39 and 42 requires that they should be firmly positioned with respect to each other, for instance by means of appropriate stays or by being both anchored stop 65 by a spring 91.

to the floor. It will besides be remarked that pulley 5 0 could be carried by'frame 42 while gear 59a would be carried by frame 39 and connected with pulley 50 by a flexible transmission.

Frame 42 also supports another transverse member 53 slidably carrying a box 54 (Figs. 4 and 5) having eight keys 55 on its rear face and three keys 59, 51, 58 on its front face, this box being connected with the controlling circuits of the machine, as hereinafter described, by means of flexible cables. Frame 42 is also provided with a foot bar 59 adapted to actuate the clutch of the card punching mechanism.

Fig. 6 diagrammatically indicates the indexing means for carriage 22. On the above-described shaft 59a there is disposed a wheel 69 provided with peripheral notches 59a, the position of this wheel being indicated in Fig. 4. Parallel to wheel 6D and at a distance therefrom is a. shaft 5I (Fig. 6) which is driven from shaft 28 (Fig. 3) through a pair of helocoidal gears 52. Shaft GI carries an eccentric $3 and a small plate 54 provided with a pivot 54a to which there is articulated a rod 55 slidably pressed against a Rod E55 has a terminal gudgeon 55a adapted to engage the successive notches of wheel 69. In this manner when shaft 5I rotates in the direction indicated in Fig. 6, gudgeon 55a rst leaves the notch 33a in which it was engaged, then moves along an arcuate path over wheel 69 as indicated in dot line, reengages another notch 50a and returns to its .initial position while positively advancing Wheel 59. Thus at each rotation of shaft 6I carriage 22 is itself advanced so that hammers I9 come in front of the next transverse row of hooks I2.

Wheel (i9 is retained in position between successive step-by-step motions by a roller 98u disposed at one end of a cranked lever 68 pivoted on the xed frame at 58h and urged by a spring 58o. The other end of lever 68 cooperates with the above-described eccentric 63 in such a manner that roller 98a is caused to free wheel 6D during the successive indexing movements thereof and to elastically hold the latter between such movements. An electromagnet 69 with a movable core 59o is provided to swing lever 68 against the action of spring 68o when it is desired to move carriage 22 without being hindered by roller 58a.

At the normal position of shaft 28 (Figs. 3 and Li), i. e. when frame 24 is at its higher position, shaft tl, which rotates at the same speed (gears 52 forming a one to one transmission), is at such a position that gudgeon 55a is fully dis- The timing must besides be such that wheel Sil is not advanced until frame 24 has completed its operation, i. e. until hammers I9 are clear of bars 23. It is for this purpose that cam groove 21a (Fig. 3) has its portion nearer to shaft 28 concentric to same over a relatively great angle, in such a manner that the said shaft may rotate through the said angle while frame 24 remains high to ensure f the indexing motion of carriage 22 and the subsequent disengagement of gudgeon a from wheel G.

The above-described devices are controlled in the following manner;

Belt 4l (Fig. 5) drives a loose pulley 12 (Fig. 3) on the shaft of the paper punching mechanisrn and there is provided on the said shaft a step-by-step clutch of the kind used in metal cutting presses to connect the press shaft with 7;, the ywheel for only one rotation. The con- 29 which is energized through a switch operated Y by key 56 of box 54 (see Fig. '1). This switch is so arranged that when key 55 is depressed, it only gives a short emission of current. In the arrangement diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8 this is obtained by providing key 56 (which is pivoted at 56a) with a tail portion 55D articulated at 56C and acted upon by a light spring 55d which maintains in contact two abutments 56e and 561 respectively provided on key 56 and on tail portion 56a. The latter operates a wedgeshaped projection or cam 11a fixed to a flexible contact 11. When key 56 is depressed, portion 56D presses contact 11 against its cooperating contact 11b and it then escapes projection 11a. During the return stroke, portion 56h is swung about its pivot 56C against the action of spring 55d and Contact 11 is not operated. With such an arrangement, or with any other equivalent device, depression of key 56 only causes one single rotation of shaft 28.

Electromagnet 29 is also energizable by means of key 53 (Fig. '1), but the latter holds its cooperating switch at .the closed position, thus causing uninterrupted rotation of shaft 28. When this key is released, shaft 28 completes its last rotation and then stops.

The electromagnet 69 which actuates lever 63 (Fig. 6) is energized by a contact switch actuated by key 51.

The eight electromagnets 3| actuating bars 23 are 'energized by means of eight contact switches respectively actuated by the eight keys 55 (Fig. 7).

It must be noted that blocks 2U are easily adjustable in position longitudinally of carriage 22. For instance, as indicated in Figs. l and 4, they are provided with lateral pins 29h engaged into holes 22a provided in the longitudinal members of carriage 22; they are guided by U-shaped portions 29e engaging corresponding U-shaped portions 22h of carriage 22; and they are locked in transverse position by a longitudinal rod 22e, in such a manner, the said blocks may be quickly and easily disposed on carriage 22 at any appropriate position, as explained below.

The operation is as follows:

It will be hereinafter supposed that the design is in two colours, blue and red for the sake of simplicity. The first operation to be effected is to prepare the weave cards. These cards are arranged in the form of three paper sleeves, viz.:

A first sleeve which combines two weaves for the red.

A second sleeve combining two weaves for the blue, and

A third sleeve combining two weaves for the background.

Fig. 9 shows the drawing of the design as it appears on the board 43, each small square representing a point of the design respectively white for the background, blue and red for the coloured zones. To simplify matters it will be supposed that the drawing extends across the full width Iii of the fabric without any repetition.' "The usual case wherein the design is repeated will be explained afterwards.

The operator rst depresses key 51 to free carriage 22 which he returns to its left position by operating pointer 48 connected therewith by cable 49, pulley 53, gears 59a, 59h, 50c, shaft 5Ia, pinion 5l and rack 52. For convenient actuation, the said pointer 4B is preferably arranged as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10 with an operating handle 48a. The design 45 is then xed on board 43 raised at its highest position, in such a manner that pointer 48 is exactly midway of the rst series of eight small squares in the lower horizontal row, as indicated in Fig. 9. In order to facilitate operation, the design is preferably divided by heavy lines 45a into larger squares having a side eight times the side of the small squares.

A single block 29 is then placed at the left end of carriage 22. The paper band to be punched is put on wheels 6 and on wheel ll there is disposed a master sleeve lll corresponding to the successive shuttles in the background.

The operator then places both hands on box `54, his thumbs resting on keys 55 and 58 while his eight other ngers are disposed on keys 55. I-Ie reads the background for the eight squares indicated by pointer 48, each key 55 corresponding to a square; for this purpose, he depresses a key when the square corresponds to the background and he leaves the key unactuated When the square corresponds to a blue or red point. It will be readily seen that in the case illustrated in Fig. 9 he will depress keys Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 8 corresponding to the white squares while keys vNos. l, 4 and 5 which correspond to coloured squares will remain unactuated. For each key 55 thus depressed a bar 23 is displaced under the action of the corresponding electromagnet 3 l.

The operator then depresses key 56 which, as above explained, causes one rotation of shafts 28 and el (Fig. 3). Frame 24 strikes bars 23 and causes those of said bars which have been displaced by electromagnet 3| to sink, thus causing depression of the corresponding hooks l2 (Fig. 4) in the rst transverse row of hooks. Shaft 64 thereafter causes wheel 60 to advance carriage 22 from the first row of hooks to the next one, pointer 43 being simultaneously advanced along transverse member 45 so that it comes midway of the next series of eight squares inthe lower horizontal row of squares, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The operator then reads the next series of squares. In the example illustrated he will thus depress keys Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, t and 1. Then he will again depress key 55 to actuate the corresponding hooks and to advance carriage 22 and pointer 48, and so on until the end of the lower horizontal row of the design.

When this is effected, hooks l2 will so to speak reproduce the design, all the hooks corresponding to a background point being lowered while those corresponding to blue or red points remain high. Referring now to Fig. 1 and to the explanations above given it will be understood that for all the background points feeler needles I may come into contact with the master card to be selected thereby, while for the other points they remain raised.

for one single rotation or stroke. The correspending card or band 4 is thus 4punched in correspondence with the master card of sleeve IIJ, but only for the points corresponding to the background, the other points remaining unparforated. The rotation oi' pulley i2 also causes feed advance of band 4 and of sleeve le which are thus positioned `for the nekt stroke.

The operator then lov/'ers board 43 by actuating handle :i4 (Figs. 4 and 5) so as to bring pointer 48 on the second horizontal row of squares; he returns carriage 22 to the left and reads this sec#n ond row as already effected for the rst one, and so on until the uppermost row of squares of the design. The background is thus wholly read in.

For reading the blue part of the design the cperator proceeds in the same manner, but he uses as master sleeve the sleeve corresponding to the weaves for the blue shuttle. He thus periorates thecards of band 4 for all the blue points of the design. He proceeds in the same way for the red points. The band will thus be fully perforated. The perforating of band 4 is thus effected in successive stages.

When the design comprises repeated parts, this may occur in two ways. y

The design proper may be fully repeated a certain number of times across' `the width of the fabric.` If for instance the design is repeated twice, this means that out of the 163 transverse rows of the Verdol card the 84 first are identical with the 84 thers. In such a case the operator disposegV two blocks 2e on carriage 22, the first one towards the left and the otliei one iril the middle (at the 85th row of the card). Bars 23 will then act simultaneously on two rows of hooks and the operator will only need to read onehali of the width of the drawing.

It will be understood that it may be proceeded in a similar manner when the design is repeated three times or more.

It may also occur that in a given horizontal row two (or more) successive series o1" eight squares are identical. In such a case the operator only reads the iirst series and thereafter instead of 4 depressing key 56 he depresses key 53 while holding keys 55. Clutch 'l5 then remains engaged so long as key 58 is retained at the depressed position and consequently bars 23 strike hammers I9 a number of times, carriage 22 being advanced between each two successive strokes together with pointer d8. When the latter reaches the last series of eight squares comprising the repetition, he leaves key 58 and the striking mechanism stops as soon as it has completed its last rotation.

It will be apparent for anyone skilled in the art that my improved machine may be used in any other particular case, for instance when there is provided a background shuttle, when the shuttles must always return to the same side of the weaving loom (looms with but one multiple shuttle box), when a given shuttle operates with diiferent weaves in the coloured points of the design, when the design is not a coloured design proper, but a pattern design with but one shuttle, etc.

It will also be observed that the machine described may be used for merely reproducing erm isting cards. In such a case hooks i2 are all brought to their lowered position and the perforating mechanism is operated without previously selecting the said hooks. All the feeler needles are then free to feel the master card and the perforated card is an exact and complete reproduction thereof.

I claim: l

l. A machine for the preparation of cards for Jacquards comprising in combination card punching means; means engageable with said card punching means to actuate same; substantially vertical feeler needles `adapted to be selected a master card to cause selective enggageinent ci said last-named means with said card punching means; vertically slidable feeler needle controlling members to which said feeler needles are individually suspended, said control'n r be e selectively positionable either etain said feels-r needls spaced fromI the mas iard or tc leave same free to rest on sa'idcard to be selected thereby, and said feeler e controllinor members being disposed in we longitudinal rows above said eedles; means to elastically retain said i'eeler needle controlling: members at their high;n er and at their lower position; means to bring all said feeler needle controlling members to their higher' position; a. carriage movable over said i'eel` er needle controlling members longitudinally of saine; vertically `slidable intermediate members supported by said carriage, Asaid intermediate members being disposed on said carriage in traiisverse rows and being adapted to actuate the feeler needle controlling members of correspondii'ig transverse rows of said controlling mem-bers below said carriage; means to move said carriage step by step to cause said intermediate members to operatively register with successive transverse rows of said fe'eler needle oontrolling means; verticaily movable bars `ertending longitudinally over said carriage, each adapted to actu'ate one ci said vertically slidable intermediate members in each transverse rowl of said intermediate merriber's on said carriage.

2. In a machine as claimed in claim` l, said vertically movable bars being also longitudinally movable and having notches along their upper edge, and said means to selectively actuate said bars comprising transverse members vertically movable over said bars to act against the unnotched portions or" upper edge thereoi, said transverse members being however inoperative when they register with the notches of said bars; and means to selectively position said bars longitudinally with respect to said transverse members.

3. In a machine as claimed in claim l a board to support a drawing of the design according to which the cards are to be prepared; a pointer transversely movable across the width of said board; and means to connect said pointer with said carriage to cause both to move in unison.

4. A machine for the preparation of cards for J acquards and the like comprising in combination card punching means; means engageable with said card punching means to actuate same; substantially vertical feeler needles adapted to be selected by a master card to cause selective engagement oi said last-named means with said card punching means; vertically slidable feeler needle controlling members to which said ieeler needles are indivdually suspended, said controlling members being selectively positionable either to retain said feeler needles spaced from the master card or to leave same free to rest on said card and to be selected thereby, and said feeler needle controlling members being disposed in transverse and in longitudinal rows above said feeler needles; means to elastically retain said feeler needle controlling members are their higher and at their lower position; means to bring all said feeler needle controlling members to their higher position; a carriage movable over said feeler needle controlling members longitudinally of same; vertically slidable intermediate members supported by said carriage, said intermediate members being disposed o-n said carriage in transverse rows and being adapted to actuate the feeler needle controlling members of corresponding transverse rows of said controllingmembers below said carriage; vertically movable bars extending longitudinally'over said carriage, each adapted to actuate one of said vertically slidable members in each transverse row of said intermediate mem-bers on said carriage, said bars being also longitudinally movable and having notches along their upper edge; transverse members vertically movable over said bars to act against the unnotched portions of the upper edge thereof, said transverse members being however inoperative whenV they register with the notches of said bars; means to selectively position said bars longitudinally with respect to said transverse members; and means to actuate said transverse members and to advance said carriage in suc-- cession to cause said members to elect a full downward and upward stroke and thereafter to advance said carriage to cause each transverse row of said intermediate members on said carriage to operatively register with the next transverse row of Vsaid feeler needle controlling members.

5. In a machine as claimed in claim 4 a board to support a drawing of the design according to which the cards are to be prepared; a pointer transversely movable across the width of said board; and means to connect said pointer with said carriage to cause both to move in unison.

6. In a machine as claimed in claim 4 means to automatically ensure repeated successive operation of said transverse members and carriage actuating means.

'7. A machine for the preparation of cards for Jacquards comprising in combination card punching means; means engageableV with said card punching means to actuate same; Vfeeler needles adapted to be selected by a master card to cause selective engagement of saidlast-named means with said card punching means; feeler needle controllingmeans individually connected with said feeler needles and selectively positionable either to retain same spaced from the master card, or to leave same free to be selected thereby, said feeler needle controlling meansbeingvdisposed in transverse and longitudinal rows; means to simultaneously bring all said feeler needle controlling means to the position at which said feeler needles are spaced from the master card; a plurality of vertically reciprocatable actuating bars, each extending over a longitudinal row of said feeler needle controlling means, said bars at their lowermost position being vertically spaced from said feeler needle controlling means; and a plurality of intermediate slidable members selectively disposed over the transverse rows of said feeler needle controlling means which are to be actuated to selectively transmit to said controlling means the action of said reciprocatable bars.

OLIVIER HENRI MARIE JOSEPH DALLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,732,982 Neville Oct. 22, 1929 

